Captain Vengeance vs. The Hive

"This isn't enough candy," Carl said nervously.

Rachel replied with a wry smile, "You're saying that because you're hoping for leftovers."

He responded with a look of sincere offense, "Like you're not?!" They both laughed.

Nathaniel came down the stairs in "the best Captain Vengeance costume ever." This was a self-judgment of a nine-year-old's cosplay skills, derived from pure excitement. It was a white jumpsuit drawn on with colored markers. There was one accessory, a rusty hair dryer he'd found in the basement. The makeshift raygun now had a blue lightning bolt on the side.

Carl tried to get in good with the kid, "Wow! What is Captain Revenge doing here?! Wait, is that Nathaniel?!"

Nathaniel rolled his eyes, "Nice try, dad, but Captain Vengeance don't share candy," and off he went.

Carl turned to Rachel full of despair, "Where did we go wrong?" She gave him a few sympathetic pats on the shoulder before unpausing Bloody Lampshade VII: The One In Space!

Nathaniel didn't have to wait long before his friends showed up. His best friend Kylie's older brother was their chaperone. After congratulating each other on their costumes, they began their hunt.

Kylie's brother was a seasoned expert. They hit all the best houses in three neighborhoods, and a few new residents (gotta make them feel welcome). When they were done, each kid had a glorious haul they could barely carry.

By the time Nathaniel got home, his parents were out of candy and had made it to Bloody Lampshade IX: Adapted From An Original Screenplay!

"How'd it go, Captain?" his mother asked as he passed by.

Nathaniel slowed but didn't stop, "It was awesome! I got all kinds of good stuff! Even some things I never heard of before!"

"Cool! Try not to make yourself sick!" his dad replied.

Nathaniel bounded up to his room, singing the theme song to Captain Vengeance, then he dumped all his candy out on the floor. He started picking through for his favorites, until he came across one he'd never had, "Huh, 'Hive.' Like bees? Is it honey?"

He unwrapped it and almost dropped it, "Wow, weeeird! It sorta looks like a brain, but it's almost like a liquid. Kinda makes it look like it's squirming around … neato!"

He popped it into his mouth and tried to chew it, but it was too squishy and slimy to catch between his teeth. He sucked on it for a minute or two, enjoying the unusual flavor, but he couldn't think how to describe it. It was unlike anything he'd ever tasted. It didn't seem to dissolve either, so eventually he decided to go ahead and swallow it.

Nathaniel sat quietly.

Extending his neck a couple of times, he slowly spat out a fresh new Hive, neatly contained in a clean wrapper. He spat out a few more.

He calmly walked down to the living room, "Mother, father, I have a candy to share with you. You simply must try it."